Diesel Saab 9-3: MOT pass rate

67.1% of diesel Saab 9-3s pass the MOT first time, measured across 16,174 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 127,829.

Diesel against the other Saab 9-3 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Saab 9-3 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 69.8%, and this diesel version sits 1.5 points below the 68.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Saab 9-3 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Saab 9-3 had covered 127,829 miles at test, against 106,793 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Saab 9-3 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Saab 9-3

1. Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit, 2.7% of tests (10.19x the national rate for this defect)
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.5% of tests (3.75x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.5% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.5% of tests (2.45x the national rate for this defect)
5. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.2% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (1.94x the national rate for this defect)
7. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.4% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.9% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.2% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.8% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)

From 16,278 DVSA-tracked diesel Saab 9-3 tests, 2024, split out from the Saab 9-3's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.63% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Saab 9-3

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 7.9% of tests (6.2x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 19.8% of tests (3.82x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 8% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.4% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)
5. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3% of tests (2.18x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.9% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 19.5% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.8% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.2% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 20.5% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect), also fails

From 16,278 DVSA-tracked diesel Saab 9-3 tests, 2024.

Other Saab 9-3 fuel types

• Petrol Saab 9-3 - 69.8%

All Saab 9-3 MOT data · Every model